Chapter 63: Foxes Savior?

Nathan: “You guys sure you know where you’re going?”

Kou: “I’m pretty sure it was this way.”

Nathan Followed Kou and Ai, who were supposed to be leading him to the bandit’s hideout, though they have been walking for a few hours. It is a good thing most of what he needed for the last few quests were herbs and berries obtainable through foraging while he walked. This way he could focus on finding the bandit leader.

Nathan remember Ash telling him not to get involved with bandits, but they were targeting him, so he really has no choice. He was tired of being hunted and the best way to do that was to wipe out the hunters. He would deal with any consequences when they came, right now, he was taking the initiative. Furthermore, subjugating bandits sound like it’s worth a rank up.

Ai: “Hey, if what you say is true, then our parents are being told the same thing we were being told.”

Nathan: “Probably, you said there were other Therian being held captive as well right, he’s making you all steal for him. It most likely the reason why, he never gets caught.”

Kou: “And if they’re there, you’ll save them?”

Nathan: “I won’t make promises, but if I can, I will. I just need to deal with the guys coming after me, I’ll see about saving everyone afterward.”

Kou: “Ah……….. I understand.”

Ai: “Stop.”

Kou: “Ai, what’s wrong?”

Ai: “What’s wrong, he’s what’s wrong. If you’re not gonna save our parents, then what’s the point of us showing you the way? We’re risking our lives here and our parents, but you don’t even care, do you?”

Nathan: “Hmm, not really, I mean, you did attempt to trap me. I understand you were made to do it, but I’m not just gonna be all buddy-buddy and reunite your family.”

Ai: “Why you.”

Kou: “Stop it Ai.”

Ai: “Kou, why are you placing so much trust in him?”

Kou: “I’m not, but he never said he was going to rescue our parents.”

Kou turned back to Nathan, he didn’t like him upsetting his sister.

Kou: “He said that he was going to take care of the bandits and that’s all we need. We can get our parents back ourselves, can’t we?”

The group walked in silence, as they made their way through the forest.

Nathan: “(Hmm, we strayed a little.)”

As they walk Kou and Ai were slowly but surely changing direction. Nathan found it odd that they weren’t heading directly there, but it could just be traveling the path the bandits lead them through. It was a good way to keep people from backtracking to their hideout.

Nathan just kept following them, but eventually their direction had change so drastically, that they were walking back the way they came. Nathan became irritated, they must be taking him for a fool.

Nathan: “Ok, what are you doing?”

Kou: “What’s wrong?”

Nathan: “Why are we walking in a circle?”

Ai: “What the hell are you talking about, we’ve been walking straight east.”

Nathan: “Stop messing around, you guys are walking in a…………..circle?”

Nathan was becoming suspicious, something wasn’t right. And as if aligning with his thoughts, the all too familiar signs of danger, his “Threat Detection” rang out in his head. Faster than the two could react, Nathan grabbed them both and whisk them up into the trees. Quickly, he grabbed their mouths, signaling them both to be quiet.

If was strange the no one was coming for them, even thought they had entered the bandit’s territory. No patrol, no traps, it could only mean one thing. Suddenly, several men and women jumped out of the woods, weapons drawn.

Bandit A: “What the hell, there’s no one here?”

Bandit B: “The illusion, should have put them around here.”

Bandit A: “I’m sure there was someone over here a moment ago, they couldn’t have gotten far. Spread out in search for them.”

Ai and Kou were genuinely surprised, seeing several people jumped out of the woods. Nathan decided to trust them a bit more and apparently, they trusted him a bit more as well.

*Ding**Ding*

Charisma +3

From what he just heard the Bandits placed a spell on the area, forcing wanderers, to walk in circles, until their inevitably caught.

Nathan signaled both them to stay here, they nodded, and Nathan vanish before their eyes. They both looked all around, but no sign of him being there. Then Ai notice one of the Bandits down below, was now laid flat on the ground out cold. Same for Kou, right before his eyes, another Bandit

fell to the ground and his body was drag into the bushes. The similar pattern played to several more bandits, each being knockout cold and until only one remained.

*Dong* New title (Prowler) obtained

Nathan: “(Oh, I’ll checked that out later.)”

Bandit: “Hey, where the hell are you guys?”

Nathan: “You know if your yelling like that, someone’s gonna notice.”

Bandit: “Who said that, show yourself?”

The bandit looked all around, but he couldn’t locate the voices origin. The fact that no one else was around, mean something had happen. Something was able to subdue them all and he wasn’t going to stick around to find out. He started to run away, only to trip over a vine, crashing to the ground.

Bandit: “Shit, blasted tree, huh whaAAAAAAAAAAA!?”

The vine suddenly wrapped around his leg and hoisted him into the air, dangling him from a branch.

Bandit: “What the hell is this, this aint no plant I ever seen.”

Nathan: “It’s mine.”

Nathan finally revealed himself, stepping out from the trees.

Bandit: “Wh-What, you’re that Lycanian, everyone been getting on about.

Nathan: “And you’re that bandit, who told me all the information on his hideout, his bosses whereabouts and how you knew we were coming.”

Bandit: “I-I’m not telling you a thing.”

Nathan: “Oh you will, or else, these vines are gonna invade every major orifice major your body and melt you from the inside out.”

Nathan smiled sadistically, a grim look appeared on the bandit’s face, as the vines slowly begin to position themselves.

Nathan: “And I do mean “Everyone”. Your call.”

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Gideon: “So you think the Lycanian took them all out by herself, Jonathan, do you hear yourself?”

Jonathan: “B-But Terrence.”

Gideon: “I told you not to call me that, I’m Gideon.”

Jonathan: “Whatever, no one’s around and this is more importantly, no one’s hurt, however some of our Therian got away.”

Gideon: “Gill, we lose a few every month, we should be working on getting everything moved quicker, we only got a few more weeks before Loegrey, sweep through this forest. No matter how many counter measures we’ve prepared they will get through. I don’t really have time to care about such things.”

Jonathan: “You should, they’re-”

*Knock**Knock

Bandit: “Boss, she’s here, just like you said.”

A smile crept across Gideon’s face, he didn’t expect her to return so soon, but it was a welcomed arrival. Gideon turned to Gill and put a hand on his shoulder.

Gideon: “See our stock is replenishing already.”

Jonathan: “Wait I have to tell you-”

Jonathan could not get a word in, as Gideon hurried out the room. Jonathan frustrated headed out behind him. Walking through the cave, he walked past the hall full of woman in cells, all being kept as pets and trophies for Gideon’s pleasure. The same old situation for each, being held with the promise of being freed, if their loved ones stole and pillage for Gideon. For all cases it ended the same, their family either abandoned them or died trying to save them. However, that just how life was for a mutt, it also didn’t help that his brother had such a strange hobby. Jonathan hurried caught up with Gideon, already, in the middle of taunting, Sari and Kashiro.

Gideon: “Well you returned ahead of schedule, you mean to tell me you finished everything, in such a short amount of time, it’s only been a few hours.”

Kashiro clenched his fist, they both knew he couldn’t have finished everything in a single afternoon. They all knew why they were there, Gideon just got some thrill out of it.

Sari: “A-About the offer you made, we are willing to accept.”

Gideon tilted his head and looked at Sari like he was confused.

Gideon: “Offer, I don’t recall making you an offer. Kashiro, I did make you an offer, come let’s talk like men.”

Kashiro stepped up to Gideon, a huge grin on Gideon’s face, seeing the sheer frustration on Kashiro’s face.

Kashiro: “M-My children for my wife, I……….I want to take you up on the offer.”

Sari understood it was her idea to take the offer, but hearing Kashiro say it out loud, made her heart stop for a second. As it did for Kashiro, the words that left his mouth were like venom, swirling on his taste buds.

Gideon on the other hand, his heart was a flutter. Every single time this happened he felt his very being shiver with a pleasure indescribable.

Gideon: “Ah, I knew you’d come around, they always do.”

Gideon patted Kashiro shoulders as if they were old friends, as he laughed.

Gideon: “Well, let’s not waste any time, Jonathan go get this man his children, I bet they been missing dear old dad. It’s been so long, I hope their still remember your face, always the neglectful father, aren’tcha

Jonathan shook his head no, much to Gideon confusion.

Gideon: “A moment please.”

Gideon step away and pulled Jonathan aside. Jonathan chanted, in encased them in a sound blocking bubble.

Jonathan: “What the hell?”

Jonathan: “I was trying to tell you, the ones that got away was his children.”

Gideon: “What!?”

Jonathan: “The men who were taking out said they went off with the Lycanian, they were talking about rescuing their parents.”

Gideon: “…………………Which means they headed here?”

Gideon’s smile returned, he had thought up a plan, to get what he want and a little extra.

Gideon turned back to Sari and Kashiro, both staring in confusion to the whole scenario.

Gideon: “Kashiro my dear friend, it seems we have a small problem.”

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Nathan: “Alright, so according to this guy, the guys we left back where we met, apparently I didn’t get all of them and they got away. They took a path to get here ahead of us and now they know we’re coming.”

Nathan kept the man tied up, but let down to the ground, he didn’t even have to go through with his threat before he told him everything. A few miles west of the current position, was a set of caverns, that’s where they made their base. It used to belong to a group of monsters, but they were cleared out. At the speed Nathan could currently travel, he could be there within a few minutes.

Nathan: “Alright, from this point on I’m going alone.”

Ai: “What!?”

Nathan: “I can get in, get the drop on leader and be done, faster than anyone could react. But, you both would be a liability.”

Ai: “But, our parents.”

Nathan: “When I subdue the leader, everything else should fall in line. I’ll send you parents this way and I’ll take all those bandits back to the guild. My ranks sure to go up after this. So, no following and stay in this tree and out of sight, if you get caught, I not coming to save you.”

Nathan disappeared in front of them again, leaving them both u in the trees. It didn’t take It wasn’t too far away, is was surprising no one had discovered them before, they were pretty deep in the woods, but not too deep, that they couldn’t be found if some looked hard enough. That spell that made one travel back the direction they came, would only get so far. Eventually, someone would catch on to the trick and they would be caught, it felt more like no one was trying to stop them.

It was just like Ash said, no one cared enough to do anything about it, they would just let the government handle it. That was a lazy excuse, while they set around and waited, many people are getting their lives destroyed by this group. Since majority of the ones being affected are Therian, no one seemed willing to risk their lives, not even their own kind.

Nathan: “*Sniff sniff*, What the?

Nathan looked around, frustrated by the familiar scent he picked up. Kou and Ai, seemed to completely disregard what he had told them.

Nathan: (Wait, how could they be following me, they can’t track me while I’m invisible…………..unless.)”

Nathan traveled in the direction of the scent and was met with a pleasant surprise. A Therian man, the same type as Kou and Ai, wandering through the woods. He must be their father.

Nathan: “Well that was a lot less difficult than I thought.”

Nathan was about to jump down, when a thought occurred, why was he wandering around the area. If Nathan assessment was right, the bandits wouldn’t station the parents so close.

To avoid risk of the family meeting, Nathan would put them Northwest of Borice, since the children were southeast of Loegrey. He didn’t look like was headed in any direction, he just kept circling the spot he was in, like he was waiting for something to happen.

This was too suspicious, Nathan decided it was better he didn’t reveal himself. At least he wasn’t dead, the kids will be happy to know that. However, Nathan finding him so easily felt more like he was placed there to be found. Nathan decided to take a quick look around, but it didn’t take long for him to find what he was looking for.

Nathan: “Another Ambush, what are they even thinking right now?)"

Someone must have got the wrong idea, believing Nathan was here to rescue him. They set him free, to lure Nathan into the trap, but Nathan had no interest in this man, accept the fact that he was alive. Leaving the trap behind, Nathan finally located the bandit’s hideout. A cliffside with several cavern entrances, meant to confuse intruders.

He was surprised the amount of people on guard, it wasn’t a lot of people, but it was still a fair amount. Nathan looked around, none of the people walking around, match the description he was given. The leader must still be inside. Nathan activated “Shadow Sneak” and quickly bounded pass the groups, heading into, one of the lesser guarded tunnels. The entrance he entered was narrow and out of the way. He wasn’t sure if it leads deeper inside or just a one-off cave, either way he could only find out if he searched.

As he moved about the corridors, just as he thought, there weren’t that many guards. The fact that he took out two groups of them so easily, must have gotten around. They were all outside, unaware that Nathan had already made his way inside.

The corridors were on dimly lit, which normally wouldn’t bother Nathan. However, for some odd reason, Nathan was finding it difficult to navigate. He was sure he was heading in one direction only to end up going backwards or smacking into a wall. It wasn’t that he couldn’t see, it was as the cave was shifting around him. He checked his status, to make sure he was okay, but nothing was wrong.

Nathan: “(What th hell is going on?)”

Nathan put his hand to a cave wall, only to be pricked by a sharp rock. He turned to see what he hurt him and found it to be some type of crystal. He couldn’t tell what color it was, but there was a lot of similar crystals protruding from the cave walls.

Nathan: “(Examine)”

Echo Crystal Rarity: Common

[Sort after for its mirror like qualities. Unfortunately, because of its mirror like qualities, it’s difficult navigate the cave system in which they are found.]

Nathan now understood why this entrance was the lee guarded one, it was naturally protected by th crystal. Since this illusion is of natural occurrence, his abilities weren’t allowing him to see through them.

Nathan: “So that’s what’s going on, now I’m totally lo-”

Nathan quickly stopped himself from finishing his statement, he nearly activated an ability he was trying so hard to never activate again.

Nathan: “(That was close, nearly screwed myself.)"

Nathan wonder around, trying his best to navigate, but to no avail. He thought about smashing all the crystals, but after initial try, it was confirmed it made to much noise. Plus, the moment he smashed one, another took its place. He was becoming frustrated all he had to do was find the bandit leader, but, there hideout natural defense was interfering with it. As he continued stumbling around, he heard a noise, like a child crying. To sound was bouncing off the walls, making it difficult to pinpoint the location. However, he did a way to track the sound with his eyes, but he truly hated that ability.

Nathan was slowly coming to the realization that he couldn’t put off using it any longer. Someone might come searching at any time, he didn’t have time to be picky.

Nathan: “Dammit. I………I’m Lost.”

*Shhhhhnnnng*

The moment he said that, the ability “Sensory Overload” activated. It allowed him to see smells and sounds with his eyes, but it gave him a huge migraine. It only activates under strict conditions, conditions he wasn’t aware of, until he said he was lost and accidently activated during a rain storm and passed out from the sudden rush of information being received all at once.

Lucky for him, the cave he was currently in was quiet. Except for the crackling of the few torches, who’s sound looked like mini fireworks, or his footsteps, that looked like vibrations on the floor, there wasn’t any real noise, so his migraine was a mild headache.

Then he heard the crying again, and a dripping dark blue color, splashed around him like waterless rain drops. It wasn’t pleasant, but he now he could follow the sound and locate the girl.

With the ability active it didn’t take long to find the source.

Nathan: “Found it.”

Right after he spoke, “Sensory Overload” shut itself off, but he didn’t need it anymore. At the end of the hall, he came across a prison. Iron bar cages outlining the walls and in everyone a Therian woman.

Nathan was surprised to see, even thought they were captives, their appearance didn’t match, their predicament. No bruises, no ragged clothes, no, dirtied faces, they even wore jewelry. As much as their appearances didn’t match the situation, their expression, didn’t match their looks. Lifeless, fear, hopelessness, none them had even a fraction of color left in their eyes. Nathan felt sorry for them, but he had to find the leader he didn’t see outside, once he had him, everything else would fall into place, including their rescue.

Just as Nathan turned to leave, the same familiar scent wafted through his nostrils, then there were footsteps. Someone was coming, Nathan didn’t have to worried about being seen, however why take the chance. He quickly moved to the far side wall ducking behind a nearby crate.

Gideon: “Here we are.”

Into the room stepped to man hauling a therian woman, the man fit the description of the leader he was given, and the woman smelled like Kou and Ai. Nathan watched as the man pushed the woman inside the room.

Gideon: “Welcome, to my Trophy room.”